Patient table

ABSTRACT

A patient table is described for use in equipment such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners that are susceptible to electrical or magnetic interference. The patient table is moved by hydraulic means, thus avoiding the need for electric motors that give rise to such interference.

The invention is concerned with patient tables which need to be moved horizontally or vertically during treatment or investigation. Such tables may be found, for example, in scanning equipment such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) equipment where typically, a patient needs to be raised or lowered to a correct height and moved into the field of influence of a superconducting magnet.

Existing patient tables are moved by means of electric motors mechanically coupled to the table by systems such as lead screws. Problems arise with this arrangement due to interaction between the magnetic/electric fields associated with the motor and the scanning equipment. In order to operate, the motors have to be situated in areas of low magnetic field or be heavily shielded.

Also, the motors cause electrical noise which can interfere with the scanners electrical systems. This is a particular problem if the table is moved during the scanning sequence.

Other equipment such as patient cooling fans and solenoid operated switches give rise to similar problems of interaction with electric motors. Existing equipment such as MRI scanners employ cryogenic refrigeration means to maintain the temperature of the superconducting magnet at a value below which quenching occurs. (This is a process in which the magnet undergoes a transition to a normal conducting state). The valves used to control the delivery and return of cryogenic refrigerant are typically electrically operated and hence provide another source of unwanted interference with the scanning equipment.

Applicants co-pending United Kingdom Patent Application number GB0520389.8 describes a cryogenic refrigerator comprising a rotary valve which controls the flow of high pressure gas into the refrigerator and the return of the gas from the refrigerator, wherein a rotary fluid motor is arranged to drive the rotary valve.

MRI scanners also include a gradient coil, which is effectively a tube of resin with electrical coil windings and cooling tubes embedded into it. Temperature control is assisted by pumping cooling fluid around the gradient coil. The pressure drop across the gradient coil in these systems is typically 2 Bar. Hence existing equipment designs include plumbing arrangements able to deliver fluid to the vicinity of the equipment and able to cope with such fluid pressures.

The present invention is directed to apparatus having the features set out in claim 1 attached hereto.

The apparatus could be a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner having a gradient coil the fluid being directed to the vicinity of said gradient coil.

The apparatus could include means for preventing flow of fluid to the gradient coil while the hydraulic pistons or motors are operated. The apparatus could include

means for directing fluid to other components of the apparatus, for example a hydraulic motor arranged to drive a patient cooling fan or cryogenic fluid delivery valves.

The invention is also directed towards a method having steps set out in claim 6 attached hereto.

The apparatus could be an MRI scanner and the method comprises the step of cooling a gradient coil by directing the fluid thereto.

The flow of fluid to the gradient coil may be prevented during the step of moving the table and fluid could be directed to other components of the MRI scanner such as a hydraulic motor arranged to drive a patient cooling fan or cryogenic fluid delivery valves.

The invention uses hydraulic pistons (cylinders) or motors to provide the motive force necessary to move a component such as a patient table. Thus, the problems of interference between the electric motors and the electrical scanning equipment are avoided. Moreover, use of a single fluid for both cooling and hydraulics reduces the additional space and reworking of existing designs necessary, which in turn provides a cost benefit.

A major advantage of the invention is that it can be produced through upgrading of existing systems. Thus an existing apparatus having a cooling system which directs coolant fluid to components of the system, and also employs motors (e.g electric motors) for moving components, can be upgraded by replacing the motors with a hydraulic piston or motor; modifying the coolant fluid conduits so that fluid is also directed to the hydraulic piston or motor and employing a fluid suitable for acting as coolant and hydraulic fluid in the system.

The invention will now be described, by way of non limiting example, with reference to the following figures in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an MRI scanner typically found in the prior art and

FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of an MRI scanner according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a typical MRI scanner of the prior art comprises a superconducting scanning magnet 1, and a gradient coil 2 used to generate a magnetic field gradient. Gradient coil 2 comprises windings of material which is maintained at about 20° C during operation.

During the scanning operation, a patient rests on patient table 4 which is then moved into the bore of the scanning magnet/gradient coil 1 and 2. Vertical and horizontal movement of the patient table are provided by electric motors 5 and 6 respectively.

Cooling of the gradient coil 2 is achieved by delivery of cooling fluid such as water to a matrix of conduits (not shown) in close proximity with the coil 2 such that heat passes from the coil 2 to the coolant. A coolant flow circuit is formed by a pump 7, a secondary supply conduit 8, the matrix of conduits in the coil 2 and a secondary return conduit 9.

The secondary coolant flow path passes through a heat exchanger 10 where heat passes from the secondary coolant to chilled primary coolant delivered to the heat exchanger by primary coolant supply conduit 11. The primary coolant then leaves heat exchanger 10 via primary coolant return conduit 12.

Pump 7 and heat exchanger 10 would typically be enclosed in a cooler cabinet 13.

Electric fan 14 provides cooling for the patient.

In a system such as illustrated by FIG. 1, problems arise, as described previously, due to electrical/magnetic interference between (inter alia) electric motors 5, 6 and the scanning equipment.

Referring to FIG. 2, components that are common to FIG. 1 carry the same numerals in both figures.

In this embodiment vertical and horizontal movement of the patient table are provided by hydraulic pistons or motors 15 and 16 respectively. The fluid directed by secondary supply and return conduits 8 and 9 serves as coolant for the gradient coil 2 and as the hydraulic fluid necessary for operation of the pistons or motors 15, 16. Additional fluid conduits 17 and 18 direct the coolant/hydraulic fluid to and from pistons or motors 15 and 16, via control valves 19 and 20.

One or more shut off valves 21 may be employed to divert coolant/hydraulic fluid from the gradient coil when the hydraulic pistons 15, 16 are being operated.

Delivery and return of cryogenic refrigerant are controlled by a hydraulic valve motor 22 and patient cooling fan 23 is driven by an hydraulic motor.

Typical coolant/hydraulic fluids would include water and a water glycol mixture although other suitable fluids could be determined by routine experimentation. 

1. Apparatus comprising: a patient table; at least one hydraulic piston or motor arranged to effect movement of the table; means for directing fluid to said hydraulic piston or motor, the fluid being suitable for use as a hydraulic fluid; and means for directing the fluid to the vicinity of other components of the apparatus, the fluid also being suitable for use as a coolant.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner having a gradient coil and wherein the fluid is directed to the vicinity of said gradient coil.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, including means for preventing flow of fluid to the gradient coil while the hydraulic pistons or motors are operated.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, further including a hydraulic motor adapted to drive a cooling fan and means for directing the fluid to the cooling fan, wherein the cooling fan is arranged to deliver cooling air in the vicinity of the patient table during operation of the MRI scanner.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, further including a hydraulic motor arranged to drive valves controlling the delivery and return of cryogenic refrigerant and means for directing the fluid to said valves.
 6. A method of moving a patient table in an apparatus comprising the steps of engaging a hydraulic piston or motor with the table and directing a fluid to the hydraulic piston or motor and further comprising the step of cooling at least one other component of the apparatus by directing the fluid thereto.
 7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus is an MRI scanner having a gradient coil and cooling of the coil is effected by directing fluid thereto.
 8. A method according to claim 7, where flow of fluid to the gradient coil is prevented during the step of moving the table.
 9. A method according to claim 8 and further including the step of diverting fluid to a hydraulic motor, and thereby driving a patient cooling fan.
 10. A method according to claim 9 and further including the step of diverting fluid to a hydraulic motor, and thereby operating valves to control the delivery of cryogenic refrigerant.
 11. A process for upgrading an apparatus, said apparatus having a cooling system which directs coolant fluid to one or more components of the systems via one or more fluid conduits and also having one or more motors to provide movement of one or more component of the system; the process including the steps of: substituting one or more motors with one or more hydraulic pistons or motors; modifying the fluid conduits such that fluid is directed to the one or more hydraulic pistons or motors and substituting the coolant fluid with a fluid suitable for serving as a hydraulic fluid and a coolant fluid. 